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Episode 6 We're going to go back about 18 years — roughly when the region's newest voters were being born. In this episode of SD101, we'll guide you through the scandals that shaped San Diego, explain how the region's leadership shifted from predominantly Republican to Democrat and share tales of those who have risen to power and shaped the region. This episode features VOSD's Scott Lewis, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and San Diego City Councilman Chris Cate. Learn more at sd101.org Support the project at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Crotty, a lead researcher at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology, has helped us out here on the VOSD Podcast throughout the pandemic. He laid out the science of COVID vaccines when they were new. He explained the Delta variant as it swept the country. And this week, he's back in an interview with Scott Lewis to talk about Omicron — the latest variant that demonstrates, as Crotty put it, “this virus is more clever than most anyone expected.” The interview starts around minute 33 of the podcast.  Also: The hunt for San Diego Unified's next superintendent. And a court ruling puts the Midway area's future in jeopardy. Support VOSD — and this podcast — today! Give at vosd.org/podcast2021 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckle up and grab a snack. We're hitting the road. This week, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña are taking you on a drive through the week's local news. We start at the bathroom shortage the city says it'll fix by putting one within five minutes of anyone downtown. Then, we're on the roads of SANDAG and some major hiccups the transportation agency is having to finalize its plan by year's end. And finally, we arrive at the the San Diego City Council chambers, where this week, Councilmember Jen Campbell was replaced as president by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've probably noticed that San Diego is a really expensive place to live. The city has a large homeless population, the cost of rent eats away our paychecks, and for most people, buying a home is out of reach. For years, we've been hearing about the housing crisis in San Diego and throughout the state of California. But how has it gotten so bad? In the latest episode of our San Diego 101 series, we're going to explain how we got here — and how a long legacy of racist housing policies made the crisis worse for communities of color. Plus, we're going to build some affordable housing right here in the podcast. Learn more at sd101.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, Voice of San Diego sued the County of San Diego to get death records for local residents who died directly or indirectly from COVID-19. A few months ago, we won. Since then, a team of reporters has blazed through thousands of these records to assemble the data and reveal trends — to show the true impact of COVID, how our region works for different populations and who was most affected by the pandemic. Reporter Will Huntsberry joins the show this week to share the insights. Also: Scott on football drama and Andrea on sidewalk vendors.  Join us! Our year-end fundraising campaign is on now. If you support the show now, your gift will be matched. Head to: vosd.org/podcast2021 We appreciate all our listeners and supporters.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on a special Friendsgiving edition of the show, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña are joined by local journalists Alain Stephens and Cristina Kim to talk about happy holiday things like bathrooms, racist deeds and guns. Happy Thanksgiving! Follow Cristina @Cristinakim830 Follow Alain @AlainStephens Support the show at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we jump into the fray of redistricting and discuss how new changes in the city's population affect how people are represented in politics. Plus: Palm trees, a park tax and a new trolley line. Support this podcast by sharing it with a friend! Send them to vosd.org/pod Or tag us on social media @voiceofsandiego See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 4 Local government can get complicated. But there's one major distinction you need to understand in order to follow it all: the difference between the city government and the county government. In this episode, we spoke with a few government experts to help us understand what the city does, what the county does, who the representatives are for each — and what you need to know to make it work for you. Let's roll some School House Rock music! Learn more at vosd.org/sd101 Support the SD101 project at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released a draft of the city's updated Climate Action Plan — with an ambitious new target of net zero emissions by 2035.  This week, we look back at the previous Climate Action Plan, which didn't do all it set out to do. And now, even if the city does everything outlined in its new, super ambitious plan, it still falls short of its own goal. Plus: Public comments and their place in democracy. And the Great Resignation hits San Diego schools and parks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diego's Air Pollution Control District is forcing industries to reduce cancer risk in San Diego. There was a major change this week in how many canceer-causing toxins local industries were allowed to spew in the air. We sat down with environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer to talk about what goes into these standards, what local industries had to do to alert residents of the risks and what changes are coming.  And a San Diego-based nonprofit Saved in America says they save people from human trafficking. But do they? Follow all our big stories and investigations with our newsletters: vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 3 Throughout San Diego – and across the country – there are lots of meetings happening, in which communities are talking about how they can maximize the power of their vote by creating new maps. This is because every 10 years all sorts of political entities from cities to school districts to state legislatures go through a process called redistricting. In this episode of San Diego 101, we're going to explain how this process works, who's drawing the maps, and how normal people get sucked into the process to harness political power. Learn more at vosd.org/sd101 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diego Rep. Scott Peters is in front of an enormous choice. It's one that could sway one of the most consequential legislative dramas in decades that includes tax credits, child care and education, climate change and — importantly — pharmaceuticals. This week on the show, we wonder: What is the point of Peters? This choice could determine that. Plus: St. Louis got a billion dollars when it lost its football team. What did San Diego get?! And we look ahead to 2022 ballot measures starting to take shape. Check out all our newsletters at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, we dedicated our annual local news summit to: law and justice. Politifest 2021 happened this week and it was full of great, though sometimes difficult, conversations about surveillance, criminal sentencing, the trauma of incarceration and more. This week, we're giving you the short and sweet summaries of a few panels. And we'll discuss some of the most crucial moments that spotlight how directly law enforcement can shape society. Plus: A local labor leader got money he wasn't supposed to and the CDC and New York Times are wrong about San Diego's vaccination rates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 2 of VOSD's new series Warning: This episode mentions suicide and contains graphic descriptions of killings by police officers. In light of several highly-publicized killings by police officers in recent years, more and more people have started demanding change to how law enforcement do their job and how they interact with society. Cops have the ability and authority to take life. So, who keeps them accountable? We'll explain that and what you need to know now about the state of law enforcement and police reform. Learn more at sd101.org Support SD101 at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four years ago, former mayor Kevin Faulconer signed a lease for the city to take over a warehouse in Kearny Mesa where crews could repair fire trucks. No fire trucks have been repaired there ever. And now, the city wants to spend $15 million to rebuild the facility it may never own. This week, we discuss all we know that's gone wrong so far. Plus: Redistricting drama is heating up. One commissioner resigned abruptly this week as the once-a-decade process to draw political maps is upon us. Register for Politifest at vosd.org/politifest Hang out with your new favorite podcast at vosd.org/101podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was a major development this week in one of the most dramatic stories VOSD has followed the last couple years. Say it with me: 101 Ash St. On Tuesday, VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt broke the news that district attorney investigators were raiding the offices of Hughes Marino, Cisterra Development and the home of Jason Hughes. Halverstadt joins the podcast to recap all the steps that led us to this week — and where things may go next. Plus: San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera's quest to kill the People's Ordinance.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're excited to share our newest show we think you'll really like: San Diego 101. We adapted our popular video series by the same name for podcast feeds. These stories are all new and each episode is made to teach something new about how the San Diego region works. Episode 1. Your Role In Local Government Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts: vosd.org/101podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, VOSD's Adriana Heldiz saw a large-scale operation by the city of San Diego to clean a homeless camp that had been growing for months in the Midway District; it recently grew so large it was spilling into the street, according to the city. Staff loaded tents and tons of belongings into a trash truck to try and sort out the area. Officers offered shelter to the people living there and cited those who rejected the offers. It put a spotlight on a lot of the issues at play for one of the region's biggest problems: homelessness. This week, we talk with Heldiz and VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt about what's going on with homelessness right now. Plus: The video that got Mayor Todd Gloria in trouble this week. Subscribe to our new San Diego 101 podcast! The trailer is out now. Subscribe to "San Diego 101" wherever you listen. And tell your friends. vosd.org/101podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's expensive to live in San Diego. You know this already. But it's about to get worse. As housing prices balloon, another basic need is getting costly: water. This week, we reported that the San Diego County Water Authority predicts the cost of water could swell up to 10 percent starting in 2023. Scott and Andy review everything you need to know about San Diego water and these rate hikes. And in the second half of the show, the latest San Diego Housing Commission drama and why it matters for the local housing crisis. Sign up our upcoming events (Cannabis Equity and Politifest) at vosd.org/events Check out San Diego 101: How We Get Our Water vosd.org/sd101 Support VOSD and our future at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckle up, folks. There's another major revelation in the 101 Ash St. saga this week. (That segment starts around minute 30 in the episode if you're antsy.) It turns out the city's real estate adviser, Jason Hughes, got paid about $9.5 million dollars (as a volunteer) for the deals he facilitated. The scoop this week by VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt was that Hughes made an agreement with Cisterra Development (the city's eventual landlord) to earn a profit off the deals or be held financially accountable if they fell apart. Also this week: Some cops refuse to get vaccinated. A vaccine expert gets real about the Delta variant. And a local hotelier makes a splash at the Elizabeth Holmes trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Crotty and his team at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology have been studying viruses for a long time. We wanted to talk to him again. He first joined our podcast in March when vaccines were first becoming available and we knew a lot less. Now, after a few months and a few major variants of the virus, we have new questions. Like, why is Delta so much worse? Is it OK to go to concerts and ball games? What's the deal with booster shots? Crotty and host Scott Lewis get into it. The post from March: voiceofsandiego.org/topics/news/bonus-podcast-its-all-a-race-interview-with-an-immunologist Keep up with the region's most important news at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is our last podcast before the recall election on Sept. 14. So let's review the candidate we know most about: former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer. On the show, Scott and Andy review Faulconer's trajectory over the last few months and how that squares with his mayoral tenure. Also, we discuss his weird ballot title. Plus: The city and county struggle with COVID-19 testing for homeless residents. Check out our recap of the Faulconer Administration here: voiceofsandiego.org/faulconer Register for our upcoming event about cannabis equity here: voiceofsandiego.org/cannabis See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, San Diego Unified — the largest school district in the region — opened up for in-person classes. Also back this week is our Parent's Guide to San Diego Schools. It's a tool we furnish every year to help parents make informed decisions for their kids' education. In this episode we preview an uncertain school year and highlight the biggest stories from the guide. Check out the guide at vosd.org/schools And the drama keeps coming for the county Board of Supervisors. This week, there was tension involving the locally beloved Bitchin' Sauce and a vote to declare misinformation a public health crisis. See our podcast on the local company here: voiceofsandiego.org/topics/economy/i-made-it-in-san-diego-the-battle-behind-a-familys-secret-sauce Support the Parent's Guide and all our work at vosd.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple years ago, then-Assemblyman Todd Gloria wrote an op-ed for VOSD. In it, he coined the term "San Diego Special." We immediately became obsessed. Its definition is rough but essentially aims to label a persistent problem in local government that should be solvable but has stuck around due to lack of vision or leadership. Think vacation rentals, the Convention Center expansion or scooters. Now, as mayor, Gloria joins the podcast to discuss these very regionally-specific obstacles. He came prepped with a list of his top-five San Diego Specials to compare to our own. Read all about San Diego Specials at vosd.org/specials Thank you to everyone who's joined our fundraising campaign this week! If you haven't donated yet, now's your chance. Support this show and all our reporting at vosd.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're giving you a comprehensive look at the years-long case of Fridoon Nehad, the man who was shot and killed by a police officer in 2015. Since the start, this case has been marked by secrecy and misinformation. Now, we think we have the full story. Plus: Public comments got wild at a Board of Supervisors meeting and schools are already scrambling to keep up with COVID-19 cases. Scott wrote something about Sara this week. Here it is. Find all our newsletters at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been quite a week for the San Diego County sheriff. Sheriff Bill Gore and his team are getting backlash from across the country after they shared a video of a deputy they claimed overdosed from fentanyl simply by encountering it. The thing is, toxicologists say that's impossible. That's not the only reason the agency is experiencing blowback. The sheriff told San Diego police last month they could resume booking people accused of misdemeanors into local jails, but they wouldn't tell us what crimes can get you booked into jail. And finally, this all comes out after the sheriff announced he wouldn't be running for re-election and a bunch of prominent Democrats pounced on the chance to endorse his chosen successor. Hosts Scott Lewis, Sara Libby and Andrew Keatts explain why that happened and more on this week's VOSD Podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not long ago, we were all obsessing over the state-mandated tier system. If were were still in the days of tiers, San Diego would be in the most restrictive purple tier, which mainly allowed only outdoor activities. Oh, how far we've come. And also kind of not. This week, we discuss the state of COVID in the region, our case for county data and new mandates for vaccines.  Plus: San Diego Housing Commission Cliffs Notes and a ballot measure for parks and libraries. Follow all our stories and takes on local news with The Morning Report: vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Standardized testing has long been derided as an imperfect way to measure a school's performance. But it's a metric that's easy to access and easy to understand. This week, education reporter Will Huntsberry explains a new metric for understanding and evaluating test scores. It takes into account poverty levels, a crucial factor that heavily influences a school's test scores. Plus: Climate change, local vaccination requirements and city real estate problems can't stop, won't stop. Find Will's newsletter, The Learning Curve at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a devastating month for San Diego cyclists — four have lost their lives after being hit by drivers. The most recent was this week, when a driver hit and killed a bicyclist on Pershing Drive. KPBS's Andrew Bowen (@acbowen) joins the show this week to talk about the state of bike safety in the region, where and why safety plans are failing and the sacrifices needed to achieve the city's “Vision Zero” goal, which is to have zero traffic-related deaths by 2025. Plus: The deal with former mayor Kevin Faulconer's recall ballot title and the San Diego city attorney's hands-off approach to infractions. Keep up with all of our stories and investigations with The Morning Report: Get it at vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city is coming for all those fancy outdoor dining structures. Or is it? We'll discuss what's really going on with those structures that happen to have a wonderful name in local political circles. Plus, a sudden local political resignation fits into a larger trend. From various local school boards, the failed effort to recall San Diego City Council President Jen Campbell and even the recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom, tensions over how and when to reopen seem to be driving conflict. Keep up with all our local news coverage with the Morning Report: vosd.org/newsletters +++++++++ Are you involved in local government as an elected official or passionate citizen? Then we want to hear your origin story! Tell us how you got started as part of a new special project from VOSD. voiceofsandiego.org/originstory See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carlos Turner Cortez was on the job for one day when VOSD education reporter Will Huntsberry called him up for an interview. Cortez's new gig is chancellor for the San Diego Community College District — overseeing roughly 100,000 students and 8,000 employees. This week on the VOSD Podcast, Cortez lays out the state of the district at the tail end of a pandemic and some big ideas he has for serving the most vulnerable San Diegans through community college. Plus: The latest on 101 Ash St. and police oversight. +++++++++ Are you involved in local government as an elected official or passionate citizen? Then we want to hear your origin story! Tell us how you got started as part of a new special project from VOSD. voiceofsandiego.org/originstory See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we explain the 101 Ash Street saga from the beginning and why it matters. ***** In January, VOSD's Lisa Halverstadt wrote a long piece on the role Jason Hughes, a commercial real estate broker, had in the mess the city has faced related to 101 Ash St., the building it was never able to move employees into. Hughes had been an unpaid volunteer advising mayors going back to Bob Filner and helping the city renegotiate leases. But he also helped the city lease two large towers, 101 Ash St. and Civic Center Plaza. This week, we learned Hughes had, at some point, stopped being a volunteer and had instead gotten one of the most lucrative commercial real estate gigs in the city: representing the city itself. He revealed it himself. The company that bought the two buildings so that the city could lease them from it paid him $9.4 million. He revealed it because the city attorney was about to make public the results of its subpoenas and new lawsuits meant to unravel the two deals based on the theory that Hughes had violated state conflict-of-interest laws and thus the lease-to-own arrangements were void. It's all very complex. We have two important pieces on it: Why what then-Mayor Kevin Faulconer knew matters and how we wouldn't know any of this without asbestos. And now, we now have this podcast. Read more at voiceofsandiego.org/101ash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Housing dominates California politics. It will shape big cities like San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco this year and in the future. Josh Stephens is the author of a book dedicated to this issue, "The Urban Mystique," which focuses on the potential of such cities — what they are and what they could be — through the lens of housing and development. Host Andy Keatts interviewed Stephens at an event put on by the San Diego-Tijuana Urban Land Institute. The folks at ULI were kind enough to lend us the audio of that discussion for this bonus ep. Keep up with all our housing stories with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homelessness in San Diego is officially “near crisis level.”  We've been calling it a "crisis" for a while now, but new reporting lays out how big the problem really is — and how much money local leaders are ready to throw at it.  Plus: The debate over how to implement police oversight and another local defection from the GOP. Send Scott your receipts! He wants to see whatever "pandemic surcharges" restaurants are pushing these days. Send 'em to scott@vosd.org or on Twitter @vosdscott. Thank you to all who gave during our most recent campaign! We appreciate you all. If you missed your chance, become a member anytime at vosd.org/donate (plus you'll get access to Scott and Andy's Politics Report). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the state has officially reopened, it's time to look forward. On this week's VOSD Podcast, hosts Scott Lewis and Sara Libby go through several questions looming for the second half of the year. Schools will be open in the fall, but how many students will choose to stay home, and why? Every elected government agency is redrawing the lines for voters, which will have big impacts for upcoming local races. Speaking of upcoming races, how will the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom ultimately shake out? Finally, the mayor says homelessness may get more visible soon. How long are we talking? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We need more housing. A lot, lot more. This week, the San Diego City Council approved changes to a housing plan it submitted to comply with a state housing law. San Diego was the first city to go through the process this cycle, which attracted interest across the state.  On the show, we review what happened the last time the city went through this process, how those numbers actually shook out (spoiler: not great) and some glaring issues with the plan. Plus: The latest at Lincoln High, what's up with redistricting and three reasons to party on June 15. Watch our video that breaks down redistricting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoZ5xFkdW8g&ab_channel=VoiceofSanDiego And here's our panel about what it could mean for communities: https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/politifest-2020/redistricting-for-our-community/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Thursday afternoon, as we sat down to record this podcast, a proverbial grenade was lobbed into our virtual podcast studio in the form of this letter. School Board Trustee Sharon Whitehurst-Payne released the letter in response to San Diego City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe's own letter from a few weeks ago requesting answers about Lincoln High. This week, we read the letter with fresh eyes and unpack its implications. Plus: A whole heap of housing politics. Read Scott's take on the letter here: voiceofsandiego.org/nonfeature/school-board-member-escalates-war-of-words-over-lincoln-high Keep up with Capitol news, politics our daily news takes and more! Subscribe to your interests at our newsletter hub: vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we discuss the response to a San Diego city councilwoman's open letter about the troubles at Lincoln High. And we've got three major investigations to unspool about about potential fraud at Volunteers of America, conflicts of interest with the San Diego Housing Commission and harassment at a local university. Keep up with all our investigations with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning Catch our explainer series, San Diego 101: vosd.org/sd101 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we discuss a public records failure by San Diego Unified, a high-profile callout of Lincoln High and some spicy public agency Twitter drama. School up on the region with San Diego 101: vosd.org/sd101 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of parking spots were taken away last year when the city of San Diego let restaurants move their business outside temporarily to keep customers around safely. Now that we're moving to an increasingly maskless and virus-less region, what's the deal with those patio structures? This week, we discuss the mixed messaging that's coming from the city on the structures' future. Plus: The latest on 101 Ash St., Cindy Marten's new job is official and other local news. Watch San Diego 101 – A user's guide to the region: vosd.org/sd101 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recall election truly earned the criticism this week that the effort is a circus. One San Diegan in the race, John Cox, is pushing some wild tactics that feature an actual bear. The other San Diegan running is former Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a key player in a new investigation by Voice of San Diego. This week, we talk the race, the investigation and a story of potential fraud at a powerful charity. Plus: San Diego 101 is back! We'll break down the latest series of explainers and how you can use it to learn about the region — and change it. Watch them all at voiceofsandiego.org/sd101 Tell us what you want to know at voiceofsandiego.org/contact See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recall is on. Enough signatures have been gathered to trigger an election to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, likely sometime in November, just before the next gubernatorial election in 2022. This week, we review the mechanics of a statewide recall election, like what you'll see on the ballot and how you'll be able to vote. Plus: Andy Keatts tells the story of the rise of Reform California, a conservative political advocacy group. Keep up with all our political coverage with the Politics Report: vosd.org/politics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released his proposed budget for the city's next fiscal year. Since then, Scott, Andy and Sara — along with a lot of other folks in the city — have  been digging into it to suss out where the mayor stands on police and other major city services. This week, we're getting in to the police funding argument. Plus: Rent relief money could get left on the table. High Tech High is set to unionize. And... a new rendering! (Check it out here.) Watch our recent members event unpacking the city budget at vosd.org/events See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we review some of the latest efforts by elected officials to change policing, from budgets to bills. Plus: Schools are back! And the Convention Center is changing as much as the rest of us. Keep up with all our investigations and news analysis with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning Join us Wed., April 12 for a happy hour to discuss the San Diego city budget: vosd.org/events See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Akilah Weber is poised to clinch the 79th Assembly District seat vacated by her mother, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and become the newest state legislator. We're going to conduct a postmortem on this special election (the rules of which we learned in real time) and how some nasty politics shook out leading up the vote. Plus: Next week marks the start of what will totally catch on as “The Great Reopening.” June 15 is gonna be a big deal. And Measure C is back. Join the spring campaign today! Donate a tax-deductible gift at: vosd.org/spring2021 If you write a note to us when you give, we'll thank you on next week's show. Every gift and every donor means a lot to us. Follow our stories all week long: vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's podcast, Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Sara Libby ran down three items in the news that were pushing their buttons. First: Several local Republican politicians seized on a local agency's call for teachers to volunteer to conduct some lessons for the migrant girls being temporarily housed at the Convention Center to try and stoke resentment and anger toward the girls. In doing so, they also publicized some outright falsehoods. Meanwhile, as vaccinations continue and life starts inching back toward normal, scooters are making a comeback. We recalled how, pre-pandemic, this was an issue that many San Diego civic leaders actually took seriously. And finally, VOSD's Will Huntsberry reported this week that Lincoln High's leadership team is being shaken up once again. The district responded to the story by doubling down on the narrative that everything is great at Lincoln and that suggesting otherwise demonstrates something sinister, a kind of gaslighting that benefits no one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The current migration from Central America to the U.S. is one of the biggest national stories right now — often referred to as a "surge." In this podcast, Tom Wong, UC San Diego professor and director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center, is going to explain what's really happening and how it all fits within longstanding patterns. Wong and host Andrew Keatts are going to get into the data, how it's captured and how pent-up demand from the 2020 pandemic is catching up to us. Keep up with immigration news with The Border Report: vosd.org/border Support local journalism: vosd.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten sat in front of a U.S. Senate committee this week as part of the process to confirm her as deputy education secretary, many senators got to ask questions we've been wanting to ask for a while. We're gonna get into those questions now. Plus, the San Diego Convention Center — which has sheltered homeless San Diegans during the pandemic — will soon house migrant children seeking asylum. (Keep an eye on the feed for a bonus episode with a local expert who will zoom out on the longer migration trends and how this moment fits in.) Follow your interests with our newsletters: vosd.org/newsletters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Scott Lewis got to talk to Dr. Shane Crotty, an immunologist and vaccine expert who leads the Crotty Lab at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology at UC San Diego. They broke down some of the science of COVID-19 as it tries to thrive in the world — and the race between us and the virus. Plus, Crotty answers listener questions. Support explanatory journalism at vosd.org/parkermatch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diego's homeless residents have been struck by yet another horrific and deadly tragedy. On the show, we put this week's events into context and discuss the major roadblock to any real homelessness solutions: a lack of truly affordable housing.  Plus: San Diego schools are about to get an unprecedented amount of money. So what now? Bonus episode coming soon! Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss our upcoming interview about vaccine science and the race against COVID. Support explanatory journalism and your gift will be matched! Join at vosd.org/parkermatch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educators are scrambling to decide when and how to reopen. But what does "open" really mean? This week, we get in the middle of haggling that's going on between school district officials and the teachers union. It's been three months since Mayor Todd Gloria took office. We check on his progress and promises about homelessness. Plus, a windfall of cash is coming to the region thanks to federal coronavirus relief. So, what next? Join VOSD today and get your donation matched! Support explanatory journalism at vosd.org/parkermatch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.